Commission Proposes Sidewalk Cost Change

The Cookeville City Council will consider a new cost structure for sidewalks after a Planning Commission vote.

The pricing centers around in-lieu of construction fees, where a developer would pay the city money instead of constructing sidewalks for their new project. Community Development Director Jon Ward said city officials have considered the costs along with what other similar size communities charge.

“The established fee has been in place for five years without an increase,” Ward said. “Due to increased costs for sidewalk construction, the Planning Division, after consultation with the Public Works Department, proposes an increase.

Fees would go from $22 per linear foot for a four foot sidewalk to $36.

Ward said the “in-lieu of” option will be most often used when the city plans to do work in an area where the sidewalks are set to be built. For example, water and sewer lines that would be soon be replaced would mean tearing up newly constructed sidewalks.

“The property is intended to be graded for sidewalk construction,” Ward said. “That’s all included in the code. There have been instances where there’s been considerations otherwise due to difficult topography and things like that, but the fee has to be paid before the building permit is issued for a particular project.”

Five foot sidewalks would increase from $26 to $45 per linear foot. Six foot sidewalks would go from $32 to $54.

City council must approve the change.